About

$226,208

pledged of $200,000 goal

1,744

backers

KILL ME, DEADLY is a labor of love for an intrepid group of theatre and film artists that have collaborated for years. We first brought this story to life on stage with a live theater production in 2009 that played to sold-out houses and rave reviews. The script's subsequent publication has seen it performed on stages all across the US, Canada and Ireland. Now that it's ready for its close up, we're bringing the story to the medium it was always intended for: film. KILL ME, DEADLY is a love letter to the classic Hollywood noirs of the 1940s; full of memorable characters, snappy dialogue and gorgeous black and white cinematography that transports you back to the world of Bogie and Bacall, molls and gangsters, femme fatales and hapless private eyes - all with enough intrigue and action to send Billy Wilder's head spinning. But what makes KILL ME, DEADLY unique are the laughs! We take this beloved genre back to its roots with a razor-sharp comedic spin, concocting a gorgeous cocktail for the eyes and ears that will require the viewer to wear their finest laughing pants. Our top-notch cast of actors and an incredibly talented crew have worked hard to make this a film that will delight cinema lovers all around the world, and with your help we can make it happen.

You know and love Kirsten from CBS’s CRIMINAL MINDS where she plays the wacky and lovable techie, Garcia. Kirsten brings all her wonderful charm and range to this fascinating character that will have you laughing and wondering just what lengths Mona will go to achieve her goals.

Joe Mantegna as Bugsy Siegel - the very desperate Las Vegas investor with a deadly attachment to the Bengal Diamond.

Joe is a beloved veteran of stage and screen, best known for his roles in The Godfather Part III, House of Games, Bugsy, Homicide, Three Amigos and the voice of Fat Tony on The Simpsons.

Lesley-Anne Down as Lady Clairmont - the fantastically wealthy, powerful and heartless widow with a passion for coconuts.

Lesley-Anne achieved fame as Georgina Worsley in the English drama series Upstairs, Downstairs (the precursor of today's Downton Abbey). She received further recognition for her performances in the films The Pink Panther Strikes Again , A Little Night Music, The First Great Train Robbery, Hanover Street, Sphinx and Nomads . She is also known as Madeline Fabray LaMotte Main in the miniseries North and South, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. Lesley-Anne also played the role Stephanie Rogers in the series Dallas, Olivia Blake in the NBC series Sunset Beach and most recently she portrayed Jackie Marone Knight in The Bold and the Beautiful. Her incredible charm, grace, beauty and wickedness make her Lady Clairmont a very memorable character that you will love to hate.

Dean channels his inner Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade as he brings Charlie Nickels to the screen - the role he created in the original stage production - bringing a hilariously obtuse blend of old-school cool and naggingly persistent befuddlement.

Paul is best known for his work in television on such programs as Mr. Show with Bob and David, Real Time with Bill Maher and Best Week Ever. He is the host of The Pod F Tompkast, which was ranked #1 by Rolling Stone’s list of “The 10 Best Comedy Podcast of the moment”.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg! This cast is chock-full of super talented actors - both famous and not-so famous - who are doing this movie because THEY BELIEVE IN IT!

As you can see, we already have tons of great footage and stills from our first phase of shooting. We have shot approximately 50% of the film and we will be finishing this summer. We have spent a significant amount of money in laying the groundwork and shooting some of the most complicated scenes, but now we need your help to finish what we started! Bringing a beautiful throwback period film to life complete with gorgeous sets, vintage props and 40s-style costumes on this tight budget takes a lot of hard work and moxie. Most Hollywood movies have a budget 25 to 50 times bigger than ours! Even though much of the film is being financed with private investment we are short of our final goal and this is where YOU can really make a difference in making movie magic.

HALFWAY THERE We have a little more than half of the funding we need to finish principal photography. The money we have in hand covers cast and crew salaries for all the various departments it takes to make a movie of this scale - grips, electric, lighting, set construction, food, props, painters, accounting, insurance, production assistants, etc... You should know that although we run a tight ship, everyone that works on this movie is like a member of our family. The set is a GREAT place to work - and while no one is getting rich, everybody loves being a part of this project! But despite the fact our cast and crew are working at reduced rates, the expenses add up.

The money we receive from Kickstarter will pay for equipment rentals, location fees, prop rental or builds, set building, building materials, wardrobe rentals and construction, and all the other costs associated with shooting a movie. The goal amount allows us to get the whole film in the can. Any money raised above and beyond our goal will be used for post production costs, such as editing, musical score and sound mixing.

We have some great locations to shoot this summer: The Clairmont Mansion, the dark alley behind Tony’s Liquor Lounge, the Laurel Canyon crime scene, rear projection driving sequences with footage of old Hollywood speeding by in the background and other scenes that take place in apartments, flophouses and even a fog-shrouded Echo Park Bridge!

We are an intrepid band of creative souls making a movie on our terms. We want to make this feature without micro-analyzing the demographic marketplace and making deals with the devil. We don’t want naysayers attempting to drown our dreams and steer us away from the way we see it going down (which happens often in mainstream Hollywood ). We know people love film noir and people love to laugh. We are bringing those two loves into one motion picture and we will be damned if anyone will stop us from bringing it to you!

Creative Team

director - Darrett Sanders

writer - Bill Robens

director of photography - Nicolas Trikonis

production designer - Krystyna Loboda

costume designer - Kimberly Freed

art director - Scott Enge

composer - Bill Newlin

As you can see from the still photos and clips, the film looks amazing, and it’s all due to the intense creativity of our amazing crew! From the director to the production assistants, KILL ME, DEADLY is a true labor of love, brought to life by talented artists of all stripes.

We have some terrific rewards for everyone at all different contribution levels (look over to the right - we've got TONS of them!!). But we know a lot of people will hear of KILL ME, DEADLY because of our lead actress (and one of our producers) Kirsten Vangsness. So we thought it would be fun to come up with some rewards that are uniquely "Kirsten". If for a moment you had any doubt as to Kirsten's dedication to completing this labor of love, take a look a the clips below. These prizes may be a bit ridiculous (perhaps even humiliating) but they will indeed be very unique and lots of fun. (And if you don't want any stuff but would still like to contribute, click on the green pledge button and select any amount you choose to give.) THANKS!

· Travel, lodging and transportation to events and set visits not included in any reward bundle
· Must be over 18 or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to attend events (premiere, set visits, special activites)
· Some rewards may require additional paperwork (to protect us and you)

We hope you like what you see. And if you would like to be a part of the KMD community we would love to have you. It takes a village to make a film. A dedicated group of artists and technicians start it, but it is the supporters that really bring it into the world. And we are so excited to share our art baby with the world. This film has been years in the making and we want 2014 to be the year everyone gets to see it. With your help we can get it in the can in late summer and onto post-production in the fall. Thanks so much for your time and we hope we get to meet you along the way.

Risks and challenges

KILL ME, DEADLY is an extremely ambitious first movie for a production company to undertake. To make it worse, we compounded the risk by starting filming without all of the money in place. What a bunch of screw-ups! Except we're not. We knew people weren't going to take us seriously since we've never produced a full-length film before, and here we show up with a period piece comedy, played straight and without big-name movie stars. We could not expect outside investors to trust that our outrageous, comedic play would translate to the screen using the visual palette and style of classic noir, so we thought that the only way to prove to others and to ourselves that it worked was to shoot some scenes. We were pleased to discover (and we think you'll agree from the clips provided) that the humor and style really click. Unfortunately, that's not enough. We took the footage to people in the industry and we kept hearing the same things over and over... "it's so funny", I love it", " I can't wait to see it when it's done". So we figured "OK, let's just keep going." It might seem crazy to continue filming knowing we didn't have enough money to complete it, but the other option was to just sit around and hope. Making movies is super hard. Finding money is harder. Even films with A-list stars can take years to find funding. The landscape for financing, foreign pre-sales, etc.. has changed so much in the last few years that small films like ours cannot get gap financing or upfront money within the industry, so all the money has to come from private investors and crowd sourcing. We took the risk. But what the hell? What is life for if you can't put all your energy into something you love, regardless of the consequences? We hope you feel the same way and will join us in our risky endeavor to make a kind of fun, crazy comedy that no one's ever made before . Thank You!!!!

Regarding Legal Stuff:
We have completed the necessary steps and hurdles for any proper film to be picked up for distribution including; Liability Insurance, Copyrights, Production Insurance, Errors & Omissions, Filming Permits, Clearance Reports, SAG / DGA / WGA Contracts, and Title Searches.

Support

Select this reward

Pledge US$ 5 or more
About US$ 5

“Private Dick” - $5 gets you in the club! You will gain access to exclusive content on our website, and a special thanks BY NAME on our website (along with thousands of other people, hopefully, so prepare yourself for small print), and the satisfaction of knowing you were in on the ground floor of the latest big thing.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 10 or more
About US$ 10

”Tough Guy” - All great noirs (and some awful ones) have a hit song, and for a measly $10 you can download an mp3 of Kill Me, Deadly’s original song “Rainbow Dream” sung by Kirsten Vangsness! Play it at parties, at weddings, create a dance mix and share it with your friends!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 15 or more
About US$ 15

“Gangster Mol” - everything from the lower tiers as well as a PDF of Kirsten Vangsness Fashion Tips. Vera Wang’s been begging us for this, but we’ve been holding off to provide exclusive content to you, our fans.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge US$ 25 or more
About US$ 25

“Flat Foot” - For fans who aren’t content to wait for the inevitable literature that will document this film’s storied history in film schools all over the world, we offer a special-edition, backers only, production e-book with still images from the set and behind the scenes photos and commentary. Before the movie is available you will have the inside scoop on top-secret, hush-hush information that those other jerks can only dream of. Get on the trolley and mock your friends to your heart’s content! (You’ll also receive all the lower tier content, so take it easy, Flat Foot.)

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Pledge $30 or more
About $30

"The Sap" - I've met people like you. You want something tangible. Something you can get your mitts on. At this level, we'll send you the digital goods AND exclusive, one-of-a-kind KMD (that stands for "Kill Me, Deadly", you sap) buttons! That's right, buttons! Each one has special, super-witty dialogue slugs over cool images from the movie. We will also throw in some stylish KMD lobby cards! Collect them! Trade with your friends! Establish a rudimentary currency! It's fun and all perfectly legal!

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Pledge US$ 35 or more
About US$ 35

"The Patsy" - Digitally download the film! See the proof, first-hand, of the good work your donation has accomplished! Since we’re trying to get this movie in the theaters, the download will only be available once we’ve secured distribution. Sorry for the wait, people, but the small group of "investors" we DO have (let's call them "The Syndicate") have made it clear the cast will lose their thumbs if certain prizes preempt theatrical distribution. I've met them. They're not joking. But relax, you will get the lower tier rewards as they become available.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

“Smart Guy” - As in “You want a DVD, smart guy? You can have it.” This is the prized DVD tier you’ve heard so much about from other, lesser, sites. In addition to the too-good-to-be-true goodies up above, you will receive a special backer’s only DVD of “Kill Me, Deadly”! Same rule with the delivery time as the download. We have to wait until we know when the movie gets distributed or we all face severe bodily harm. The Syndicate has hinted they might come after our fans as well, so it’s for your own protection. We will also send along a signed movie poster so you have something to look at while you wait for the DVD.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $60 or more
About $60

“Wise Guy” - Because you’re just a little wiser than “Smart Guy”, you expect a higher resolution with your video purchase, and for just ten more dollars you can get it with the “Kill Me, Deadly” Blu-ray! Again, The Syndicate has made it clear that we can't ship the Blu-Rays until we know what the situation is with distribution. Personally, I don't care what they say. I want our fans to get everything as quickly as possible and I'm not going to let some fancy suit tell me what to- MMMPPPHHH!!! The Syndicate! MMMPPH! Run! MMMPHH! Can't breathe- MMMPPPHH!! (sound of body hitting floor) Greetings, Kickstarter suckers. You will get your Blu-ray when we say you get your Blu-ray. In the meantime, please partake in the spectacular selection of prizes listed above, as well as a signed movie poster!

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Pledge $100 or more
About $100

“Gumshoe” - Want something tangible? Tired of the cold emptiness that is cyberspace? After a long day at the factory, you prefer to kick back with a book rather than some fancy-pants Kindle? I don’t blame you. That’s why with a $100 contribution you get a HARD COPY of the production book! So whatever mockery your friends would have suffered at the hands of your digital book will be experienced ten-fold when you wave these beautiful pages right in front of their faces. Then you can read it, laugh and look amused. And when they ask “what is it?”, you can say “oh, nothing. You wouldn’t understand.” That will drive them nuts!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $120 or more
About $120

"Sleuth" - Tired of friends and family making fun of you because you don’t know anyone famous? Now’s your chance to prove them wrong! In addition all of the lower tier items, for just $120 Kirsten Vangsness will follow you on Twitter! If you’re a big Kirsten or Criminal Minds fan, there is no better way to let the them know what you’re having for lunch or your opinion on the latest gossip. And don’t be surprised if she direct messages you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

"The Stake Out" - Twitter doesn't cut it? You want tangible proof that you're on the inside track of one of the hottest projects in movieland? We got you covered. For the low low donation of $250, TV's Kirsten Vangsness will record a 20 second video for you - (probably longer since KV has the gift of gab) -- As long as it's in good taste, you can have Kirsten say whatever you want and we'll send you the video as an mpeg. You're the auteur! You're like Orson Welles, if Welles only operated in short, 20-second spurts of clean, inoffensive material. You still get all the earlier, non-limited goodies as well.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $350 or more
About $350

"The Mouthpiece" A Private Test Screening. The words conjure up images of Hollywood Bigshots in smoke-filled rooms with martinis and, I don't know, pizza? I've never been to one. But at $350 you can attend a private screening of KILL ME, DEADLY! Before the movie comes out, before the obligatory Oscar nominations and hullabaloo that comes with commercial and critical success, you and a guest can come to Hollywood (at your expense) and watch, with key cast members and producers, a private test screening of the movie you've helped complete. Help shape the final product with your keen insight. It'll be awesome. Throw in the fun prizes and rewards at the lower levels and this may perhaps be the best deal on the planet. Maybe the history of the planet. Big words, but keep in mind I did use the word "maybe".

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

"Femme Fatale" - Have your own song! In addition to the non-limited, lower tier items, send us ten tasteful, fascinating sentences about yourself (and $500 - don’t forget the $500) and Kirsten and her crack team of writers will craft a song in your honor - to be sung by Kirsten - and sent to you in an mp3. How cool is that? Join the ranks of other subjects of great songs like “Mona Lisa”, “Jude” and "whoever Carly Simon was talking about."

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

"The Grift" - Not a music fan? Prefer your award in the form of hand-crafted prose, preferably with the use of a quill? Then this is the tier for you! Send us up to ten tasteful , fascinating sentences about yourself, and award-winning writer Kirsten Vangsness will write a short story about you. We promise she will have no ghost writers on this project. We will lock her in a room until she’s finished with the unique story that is you. She works better when she’s desperate anyway.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

"The Penelope" Fashion yourself a sleuth? Want the kind of eye-wear used by computer wizards in the television version of the actual FBI? Then donate $500 and you can get a genuine Criminal Minds Penelope Garcia eyeglass frame fashioned especially for Kirsten by l.a. Eyeworks! We also throw in (in addition to the lower tier items) a hand-selected piece of jewelry she wears as the character and a pen from Garcia's hi-tech office. Dress up like Garcia and zing your friends with sassy one-liners!

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Pledge $750 or more
About $750

"The Grande Dame" - At this level you're probably wondering "I've donated so much money, a phone call would be nice". What is this, 2005? We will Skype you! That's right, we use Skype as a verb around here without irony. At this tier, you get all of the previous non-limited swag, and a pre-arranged Skype (or FaceTime or whatever you want to call it) conversation with members of the cast (Kirsten always included)! Talk about the movie! Talk about things! Catch up on old times like why don't you call any more? We've been worried about you. It'd just be nice if you checked in once in a while. etc.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,000 or more
About $2,000

"Mobster" - Now you’re playin’ with the big boys. For just $2,000 you’ll get all of the non-limited, lower tier items and an opportunity to meet the cast and the producers with a visit to the set! Watch us shoot a scene! Soak up the glamour! Experience craft services up close and personal. Gape with awe at our vast assortments of snacks! Come join us and be treated like a big shot. You’ve earned it. (Plus 2 tickets to the premiere screening in LA.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,000 or more
About $2,000

"Bobbleheads" What is the best way to show respect and admiration for an athlete, actor or politician the world over? The bobblehead! And now you have the opportunity to own a rare rare rare set of Criminal Minds bobbleheads! These are EXTREMELY limited collector's items which we are making available only to our fans at the donation level of $2000. So in addition to all of the non-limited lower tier rewards, a Criminal Minds hat, and signed CM script, you will also receive these insanely cool, extremely limited bobbleheads that are unavailable anywhere else! All while supporting a great movie you can't wait to see anyway! How neat is that? (7 characters in each set) We will send the Bobbleheads straight away. Other items will come when they are ready.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,500 or more
About $2,500

“The Fat Tony” - One of the great things about funding this movie is the chance to watch the wonderful Joe Mantegna as Bugsy Siegel. What better way to celebrate than to have Joe Mantegna follow you on Twitter? At this tier you will get all the non-limited, lower tier rewards AND Joe Mantegna will follow you on Twitter for a year! And to welcome you into the rarefied air of high-end KILL ME, DEADLY supporters, Kirsten will include a selection of unique hand-picked Criminal Minds paraphernalia and Joe will send you a personalized video as well! As you can see, this reward is VERY limited, so snatch it up while you can!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $3,000 or more
About $3,000

"The Rub Out" - Sure you’re looking forward to seeing “Kill Me, Deadly” and want to help in any way you can. But are you man/woman enough to defeat TV’s Kirsten Vangsness in a test of strength? Well, for $2500 you can find out! Come out to Los Angeles at your expense, and engage in an Indian Leg Wrestling competition with Kirsten! And in case no one believes you actually did this, or that anyone would offer a reward this ridiculous, we will film the whole thing. So stop showing your friends and family the same old vacation and wedding videos, and give them something they actually want to see: YOU and KIRSTEN, writhing on the floor, legs locked in mortal combat! (Yes, you get the other non-limited items as well) Plus 2 tickets to the premiere screening in LA.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

"Mob Boss" - At this tier you're the Mob Boss. The Big Kahuna. And you don't come to us, we come to you. That's right, you get your own private KMD (KILL ME, DEADLY) party. You plan the whole shindig and fill it up with guests and Kirsten will fly in like Sinatra, perform "Rainbow Dream", followed by the extensive rubbing of elbows. You provide the party, and we provide the KV. Oh...and you are invited to premiere too.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

"The Clubhouse" - Judging by the clips of our beautiful movie, our interviews, and the breezy off-hand style with which we fashion Kickstarter Pages, don’t we seem like a fun group of people? Well, we are! And a $5000 donation entitles you and 4 guests to have a game night with the cast! Can we really be this much fun? Is it all just smoke and mirrors and clever editing? Find out with an evening of games, chat and probably some of those tiny pickles. Previous, non-limited, rewards also coming your way. (plus tickets to the premiere screening in LA.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10,000
About $10,000

The High Pillow - At this level, you've moved us so much closer to our goal of finishing this wonderful movie, we're willing to inconvenience the CBS corporation. For the not-so-low price of $10,000, you can join Kirsten for lunch and take a private tour of the set of Criminal Minds. See where Kirsten works! Get a close-up look at a hit TV show! Solve a murder! (spoiler alert: no real murders will take place) And while you're in town (or at a different time, depending on shooting schedules) come visit the set of KILL ME, DEADLY, watch us shoot a few scenes, and chat with the cast over lunch. And later, when the movie is finished, join us as our special guest at the premiere where you will sit with the cast and producers. We'll even open the side door and let you sneak in a few friends. Non-limited lower tier items are coming to you as well. ...and for the hell of it, we will put your name in the credits - in a nice bold font. A big thanks from us to you.